The special
session of the Services Council formally launched on Friday 25 February the new
negotiations on services. Members agreed to work in the next few months on guidelines and
procedures for the new negotiations. Overall, the negotiations will comprise two
phases:

the
"rules-making" phase during which Members will negotiate new rules for services
on subsidies, safeguards and government procurement;

and the
"request and offer" phase, where Members will negotiate further market access.

While work in
the first phase will mostly take place in the existing services committees - mostly in the
Working Party on GATS rules - market access negotiations will take place in special
sessions of the Services Council.

At the same time, the Services Council will continue its mandated work on the reviews
in regular meetings: review of MFN exemptions ;review of the Annex on Air
Transport Services and review of the Understanding on Accounting Rates (S/GBT/4).The Committee on Specific Commitments is
currently drafting procedures for the certification and modification of services schedules
and continues its work on the classification of services. The Working Party on Domestic
Regulations carries on its task of drafting disciplines for all services sectors.

The
week of 10 April was agreed as the date for the next round of services meetings.